March | 2020
AlabamaGermany Partnership Announcement
As an organization, AlabamaGermany Partnership is somewhat uncertain how to navigate the uncharted waters of the Coronavirus pandemic, as we know most of you are. What we do know is that we care about our members and friends and want you all to be safe and healthy.

As much as we enjoy getting our members and supporters together and encourage new connections, we will not be hosting any events until mid-May. At that point, we will base our event decisions on more contemporaneous information.

The office remains open and you can reach us by phone: (205) 341-7880 or email:  director@alabamagermany.org . We will NOT be open for appointments.

Our hearts and thoughts go out to everyone affected by this unprecedented event. We recognize that these are unsettling times and are hopeful we will see you in the very near future when this is all behind us.

In the meantime, please stay safe & healthy!
 
Bobby Ingram, AGP Chair & Tine Hoffmeister, AGP Executive Director

Thank You for Attending!
Thank you to the 230+ of you that attended our AGP 22nd Annual Celebration Dinner in Huntsville. What a special night to revisit the rich German history in Alabama and celebrate the future with the announcements of new and expanding German companies represented in Alabama.

We truly appreciate you participating in the celebration and being a big part of the strengthening of the Alabama-Germany friendship under the Saturn V at the US Space and Rocket Center.

The proceeds from this event go to support the organization’s on going mission to support the development of the cultural, educational, business and social relationships among individuals and organizations with ties to both Alabama and Germany. 

Please enjoy the  photos from the event . We look forward to seeing you again at an AGP event in 2020.

THANK YOU!  


A very special THANK YOU to our generous sponsors for their support:
Recognition of New and Expanding German Companies in Alabama

German companies in Alabama continue to have a big impact on the economy in our state. For the past two decades, German companies have invested more than $11 billion in Alabama. P er tradition we recognized the continued German investments announced in 2019.
Recognitions was presented on behalf of AGP by: Angela Till, Department of Commerce and Stefanie Ziska, German American Chamber of Commerce South to:

abatAdah Group Inc. in Birmingham
Year Established in Alabama: 2019
Merger of abatUS and Adah International
Product: SAP Consulting / Project Management /Owner’s Representation / Training
New Jobs: 18

Borbet Alabama, Inc. in Auburn (not present)
Year Established in Alabama: 2008
Product: Automotive Aluminum Wheels
New Capital Investment: $6,323,000

Gerhardi, Inc. in Montgomery
Year Established in Alabama: 2018
Product: Automotive Injection Molding and Electroplating
New Capital Investment: $3,735,000

ID Plastics L.P. in Auburn
Year Established in Alabama: 2019
Product: Reusable and Foldable Plastic Containers
New Jobs: 50
New Capital Investment: $9,800,000

SWJ TECHNOLOGY, LLC  in Tuscaloosa
Year Established in Alabama: 2015
Product: Engineering, Planning and Project Management
New Jobs: 4
New Capital Investment: $100,000

Year Established in Alabama: 2006
Product: Aluminum Trim Parts
New Jobs: 30
New Capital Investment: $20,130,300


Thank You to all the companies for their trust and investment in Alabama!

Dankeschön to our PATRON Members:
Merkel: Coronavirus is Germany's greatest challenge since World War Two
By DW.com
In an extraordinarily rare nationwide TV address, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on citizens to do their part in helping to overcome the COVID-19 outbreak. Germany is now one of Europe's hardest hit states.

Her speech came one day after Germany instituted restrictive measures in an attempt to curb transmission.

On Wednesday (March 18, 2020), Germany registered a jump of over 1,000 infections of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, from the day before. Just under 12,000 individuals have been infected in Germany, according to the John Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center.
'Greatest challenge'

Merkel spoke directly to the camera in the pre-recorded remarks. She described the fight against the virus as Germany's greatest challenge since the end of WWII and appealed for national unity.
"The situation is serious. Take it seriously. Since German unification, no, since the Second World War, there has been no challenge to our nation that has demanded such a degree of common and united action," she said.
Borbet Alabama Expanding Plans in Auburn
By OANOW.com
Auburn city officials announced that Borbet Alabama is expanding its local operation, investing $23.9 million and creating 25 new jobs over the next two years.

“Borbet is a valuable asset to Auburn and has been a remarkable corporate citizen since they made Auburn home in 2008,” said Auburn Mayor Ron Anders. “We’re grateful to them for the high-tech jobs and positive company culture they provide their employees and look forward to their continued growth.”

The German company manufactures light metal alloy wheels for the auto industry. It has over $1 billion in annual sales with nine global operations.
Search for coronavirus vaccine turns spotlight on German biotech firms
By DW.com
In the quest for a treatment for COVID-19, progress is slow and requires both time and massive funding. Two German biotech firms are hotly tipped to be in the lead, but can they forge a breakthrough?

"An der Goldgrube 12" — literally translated "At the Goldmine 12" in English — is the postal address of German biotech firm Biontech in Mainz, Germany. The name is apt because the company could indeed strike it rich if it succeeds in its newest undertaking:  finding a vaccine against coronavirus and the lung disease COVID-19  it causes.

So far, Biontech has been developing drugs against cancer, but a recent cash injection from Chinese drugmaker Fosun Pharma would allow it to speed up its efforts in the global race to find a vaccine against the novel pathogen, Biontech announced Monday (March 17). The Chinese offered €120 million ($133.3 million), some €44 million of the sum are in exchange for shares in Biontech.
AGP Rainer Bauer Award
Presented by Peggy Smith, Cullman Chamber of Commerce at AGP 22nd Annual Celebration Dinner
Congratulations to Recipient
Albert von Pelser-Berensberg
REHAU Automotive

I (Peggy Smith) spent the greater part of four decades in economic development recruiting new companies and helping others to expand. Our honoree this evening became a marketing legend for our community and the State of Alabama. He never missed an opportunity to discuss the great capabilities of the Alabama worker and gave high marks to the support he received from the community, the Governor’s office, Department of Commerce and others. 

When AGP’s executive director meet with Albert for the first time she recalls meeting with a dynamic German that called himself a Southern boy. His love for the South was clear but at the same time h was also direct about the areas where he felt Alabama could learn from Germany like in the field of apprenticeship. He suggested forming a group of leaders from the German companies in Alabama that could share experiences plus guide and offer support to new German companies. The group was later formed as AGP German Business Committee. 

Dankeschön to our SUSTAINING Members:
AGP Dr. Barbara Fischer Education Award
Presented by Dr. Traci O'Brien, Auburn University at AGP 22nd Annual Celebration Dinner
Congratulations to Recipient
Raegon Lemmond, The University of Alabama

We have a very worthy recipient of the Dr. Barbara Fischer Education Award: Raegan Lemmond. Raegan is a native of Alabama and received her BA and MA in German from the University of Alabama, during which time she also studied abroad in Erlangen, Germany. While a student, she received an award for Outstanding Graduate Student in German. After graduation, she worked as a German instructor at Auburn University for seven and a half years. During that time, I got to know Raegan very well. We collaborated on teaching projects, conference presentations, and taking students abroad together 4 summers in a row. We have remained good friends – even after she left Auburn for a position at Alabama. For almost 8 years, Raegan has been a German instructor at the University of Alabama, where she has distinguished herself not merely through outstanding teaching, but an impressive range of service activities – and I can attest: Raegan is the kind of person who always asks: How can I help?
AGP's New Members
Corporate / Associate

George B. Inge, MD
Owner/Manager




Governmental Entity/Non Profit

Greg Knighton
Economic Development Manager




Individual

James Aughtman

Howard McKay


The Essentials of Distance Learning for Educators
For German teachers who are transitioning to online teaching, join our webinar to learn more from remote teaching expert Mary Joan Brilla.

This FREE webinar offers practical tools to teach online, whether virtual or online learning. Four areas will be highlighted with time to ask questions and provide support and ideas.
NEW PHONE NUMBER FOR AGP!

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(205) 341-7880
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